Out of almost 2000 samples of dairy products tested for DCD after a tainting scare earlier this year, 371 product samples showed traces of the nitrate inhibitor, according to results made public today by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

MPI director general Wayne McNee repeated that the quantities of DCD (dicyandiamide) found in the dairy products created "absolutely no food safety risk whatsoever".

DCD has been used on pastures to reduce the harmful environmental effects of urea use and run-off from cow effluent.

Most of the samples with DCD showed traces of less than one part per million, with the highest detected level at 2.4 parts per million in skim milk powder.

But of the samples taken, none of the more than 600 taken from products made since November 13 contained any trace of DCD.

The ministry said almost 2000 samples had been tested from all the main dairy companies.

The traces of DCD were well below European Commission daily intake levels for the chemical.